Wednesday, June 25, 2008

reason

each step a step to madnesseach bout of madnessstripped another layer of veneerhe laughed at deathand cursed the deadboth friend and foewondering at their smallness,their insignificance

how could a manbe held in such a sad huskhe gloried in invincibilitythat others might fall, but not himdeath was all around himand he killed always from a distancecrouching behind the splinter shieldof the twin fifties

he thought he knew death’s facename, rank and numberthough he had never brushed its hand,then he met his enemystumbling over something softhearing the muffled groanhis rifle locked and loaded,he met his enemy’s eyes

of course he pulled the triggerit was what he was trained to dobut a moment of eternity passed thereand he learned fearhis red-headed temper swaggered stillyet he was a hollow manliving among other hollow meneach unaware of the others

he lived with this another 35 yearsuntil his hand gave in to the call of the gunhe had bought for no certain reasonto clear his mindand bring the circle to completionthrough the stench and the hazeto where he met his enemy once more